Reaction-engine.



No. 805,512. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905. T. R. ALMOND. REACTION ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 18,1904.

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' T. R. ALMOND.

REACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1904.

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T. R. ALMOND.

REACTION ENGINE.

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I. R. ALMOND.

REACTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1904.

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PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

T. R. ALMOND. REACTION ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 18,1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

REACTION-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

. Application filed July 18, 1904. Serial No. 216,950.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. ALMOND, a citizen of the United States,residing in Dunwoodie, Yonkers, Westchester county, State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ReactionEngines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to engines in which an expansible medium, such assteam, is introduced under pressure and discharged from a rotary memberin such a direction as to cause said member by reaction to rotate in theopposite direction.

My present invention has for its object to provide a very simplereaction-engine of the above-indicated type consisting practically ofonly two parts and having provision for the gradual expansion of thedriving medium in a series of steps or stages, soas to progressivelyreduce the pressure to substantially atmospheric pressure and to utilizethe energy o the driving medium to the fullest extent, while reducingthe speed of the rotary member to a number of revolutions sufiicientlylow for satisfactory practical results. For this purpose 1 construct myimproved engine in accordance with the principles hereinafter setforth,the novel features of my invention being particularly pointed outin the appended c aims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a longitudinal section on line 1 1 of Fig. 2, showing an engineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a centralcrosssection of another form of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a central cross-section of still another form of my invention.Fig. 6 is a side view of the rotary member of the engine.

Fig. 7 is a side view of another form of the rotary member. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal section of a further form of construction. Fig. 9 is across-section on line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross-section of oneof the plates shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 11 is a section on line 11 11of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a further form of myinvention. Fig. 13 is a face view of the plate, employed in Fig. 12.Fig. 14 is a section on line 14 14 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a side view ofsaid plate. Figs. 16, 17, and 18 are longitudinal sections of furtherforms of construction, and Fig. 19 is a detail side elevation showmg asomewhat different form of plate for the rotary member.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the engine comprises a stationary memberor casing and a rotary member journaled in said stationary member. Thisstationary member may be provided with a substantially cylindrical bodyA and end members or heads A A bolted or otherwise secured to said body.A cylindrical chamber A? is formed in said stationary member, saidchamber being adapted to receive the rotary member the shaft of which,B, is journaled in the heads A A Upon said shaft is secured a drum B, soas to leave an annular chamber between the cylindric al bodyA and saiddrum. Upon the drum is mounted a series of reaction members or plates C,two sets of such reaction members being shown, one at each side of thecenter. These reaction members may be held on the drum in any suitablemanneras, for instance, by causing the said members to abut against aflange B of the drum and screwing a nut B against theother end of theseries. A central spacing-collar D separates the two sets of reactionmembers, and each of said members is provided with a cylindrical flangeC,

which fits upon the drum B and serves to space the reaction member fromits neighbor. Each reaction member has its outer edge or periphery in acylindrical surface, so that in rotation it will form a practicallysteamtight fit with the inner surface of the body A. Each reactionmember further has a series of lateral bends C of approximatelytriangular shape When viewed from the edge, and preferably one wall ofthis bent portion extends approximately at a right angle to the plane ofrotation. In this wall I provide an opening G which extends abouttangentially to the path of rotation and forms a passage through whichsteam may pass from one compartment or chamber to the next, it beingunderstood that the disks or plates C divide the casing'into a series ofcompartments.

I desire it to be clearly understood that the special construction ofthe reaction members or plates is only one of the many ways which may beadopted for affording a communication from one chamber to the next atthe outer portions of such chambers. The inlet for the steam or otherdriving medium is indicated at E and is located centrally-that is,between the two sets of reaction members. The steam therefore enters thefeed-chamlIO ber surrounding the collar D and passes to the two adjacentchambers by means of the communicating passages C. This feedohamber Ihave termed a central chamber, which means that it is located betweenthe two sets of reaction members, and it is not necessary that thechamber should be mathematically central. Fig. 1 shows one form of myinvention in which the sizes or areas ,of the apertures C increaseprogressively from the inlet toward the outlet. Thus as the steam passesfrom one chamber to the next a reduction of pressure will take place,and by a proper choice of dimensions the reduction of pressure may be sograded that the pressure in the last chamber will be still somewhatabove atmospheric pressure. It will be understood that with a properconstruction of the parts the reduction of pressure may be carried outevenly from chamber to chamber-that is, the construction may be suchthat each chamber will be filled with steam having a pressure of, say,ten pounds above the pressure of the steam in the next chamber intowhich the steam escapes. A compound action is thus obtained, and theengine will deliver at the shaft B the sum total of reaction energiesexerted at the individual communicating passages C The exhaust passesfrom the ends of the casing either directly to the atmosphere or througha special exhaust-conduit A", having an outlet A. The central admissionof the driving medium is of advantage in the following respects: First,owing to the employment of two series of reaction members at oppositesides of the steaminlet all end thrust is eliminated sec- 0nd, the steambeing hottest at the inlet and coolest at the exhaust and the bearingsbeing located adjacent to the exhaust it will be understood that withthe central location of a steam-inlet there will be but little heatingeffect on the bearings third, the structure is duplicated with theemployment of a single feed-chamber, thus simplifying the constructionand making it very compact.

The peripheral introduction of the driving medium presents the followingadvantages: First, the freedom with which the steam may be supplied tothe feed-chamber in large amounts, as the area of the inlet E and thesize of the feed-chamber may be increased to any required extent;second, the possibility of keeping the diameter of the shaft andbearings down to the smallest practicable size; third, the shaft andbearings are removed as far as possible from the influence of heat dueto high-pressure steam.

The provision of the drum B while not absolutely necessary is ofadvantage in that it provides a firm support for the reaction members atpoints sufficiently close to their outer edges to prevent any lateraldeflection of said reaction members at their outer edges, whichdeflection might cause the plates to bind. It will be seen that therotary member forms practically a single piece, and, in fact, it ispossible to cast such rotary member of a single piece.

An important feature of my invention lies in the comparatively smalldifference of pressure between adjacent chambers and the relativelysmall speed of rotation which is thus secured.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the casing or body A has a continuouscircumferential groove A communicating with the inlet E and with thecentral chamber of the rotary member. Thus a quick distribution of thesteam to all parts of the central chamber is assured.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 differs from that described above bythe omission of the circumferential groove A and by the extension of theinlet E into the central cham ber of the rotary member. In Fig. 5 thebody A has a circumferential groove A connected with the inlet E butsaid groove does not extend continuously around the inner surface of thebody A.

Various constructions may beemployed for assembling the reaction-disks,which form part of the rotary member, and securing them to the shaft. Ashas been stated above, the entire rotary member may be cast of onepiece, if desired, or,'as has been described with reference to Figs. 1,2, and '3, the reac tion-disks may be annular and mounted upon a drumsurrounding the shaft. As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the disks 0 aremounted directly upon the shaft and suitably secured thereto, and,according to Figs. 5 and 6, the two central disks are held to thespacingsleeve (1 by rivets F, and the entire series of disks is heldtogether by bolts G and nuts G in conjunction with spacing-collars GThese disks are provided with laterally-bent portions provided withapertures increasing in size from the inlet toward the outlet in thesame manner as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Instead ofincreasing the apertures in size they may be increased in number, itbeing understood that in either event the total area of the apertures orpassages from one chamber to the next increases from the inlet towardthe outlet. In Fig. 7 one of the end rings is secured to a flange B uponthe shaft B, and each two adjacent disks are connected, by means ofbolts and nuts g g, with spacing-collars g In the constructionillustrated by Figs. 8 to 11 the stationary part or casing is of thesame construction as in Fi s. 1 to 3. The rotary member comprises theshaft B, having at one end a shoulder B and at the other end a nut Badapted to press together the hubs H of disks H, forming rotary reactionmembers and at the same time partitions to divide the chamber of theeasing into a series of compartments. These compartments may increase insize from the inlet toward the outlet, as shown in Fig. 8, and theproper spacing of the reaction-disks is obtained by using hubs H ofdifferent lengths and also at the peripheral portions by providing thedisks with projections H arranged for engagement with the adjacentdisks. Each of these rojections is provided with an aperture 1& forminga passage by means of which one chamber communicates with the next, andthese passages are so directed at their discharge ends as to producerotation by a reaction effect. The lugs or projections H prevent lateralbending, distortion, or

deflection of the disks at their outer portions,

which might cause binding at the periphery.

In Figs. 12 to 15 the casing is of the same construction as in Fig. 1,having a body A, heads A A forming a cylindrical chamber A below whichis the exhaust-chamber A and into which leads the inlet E. The shaft B,journaled in the heads A A carries the drum B, upon which are secured,by screwcollars d 01 two series of reaction members I, each having aring-flange I in engagement with the drum B. A collar J separates thetwo innermost reaction members, and thus determines the size of thefeedchamber a. The communicating passages I leading from one chamber tothe next, are in this form of my invention made at the edge or peripheryof the reaction members,

which preferably are provided at the required points with lateralprojections I which may also serve to brace the eripheral portions ofthe reaction members y engaging the adjacent member. The dischargeportions of these passages are so directed as to produce rotation by thereaction effected.

The form of construction illustrated by Fig. 16 is very similar to thatshown in Fig. 12. Hence I will describe it only so far as it differstherefrom. The inlet a is at one end of the casing instead of beingcentrally arranged, and the steam travels to the opposite end from whichthe exhaust escapes. It will be seen that with this construction thesteam has a tendency to exert an end thrust on the shaft. To diminish orentirely counterbalance this end thrust, I connect with the shaft abalance-plate exposed to pressure acting in a direction opposite to-thatwhich would produce the end thrust. In

the particular construction illustrated by Fig. 16 the shaft carries abalanceplate M, mounted to rotate therewith and having a running fit ina cylindrical chamber a,

which may be formed upon or in the cover (1 This chamber has an inlet afor the introduction of suitable medium to produce the requisitebalancing pressure.

In Fig. 17 I have illustrated diagrammatically a construction similar tothat represented in Fig. 16, except that the balanceplate m is in thiscase shown within the main casing, being located at the opposite side ofthe inlet a to the set of reaction members. The chamber A between thesaid balanceplate m and the head a of the casing should have a suitableopening and is preferably connected with the exhaust, which may be doneby having the ends of the drum perforated, as shown.

In Figs. 18 and 19 I have illustrated a construction similar in generalarrangement to that shown in Fig. 12. The difference is in theconstruction of the reaction members, and I shall therefore confine mydescription of Figs. 18 and 19 to an explanation of this feature. Thereaction members are held on the shaft by means of end plates K,screwing on the shaft. Each reaction member has a cylindrical portion L,adapted to abut against the corresponding portion of the adjacentmember, these flanges together forming substantially the, equivalent ofa continuous drum. Each of the reaction members further has a centralportion L extending into contact with the shaft B. This central portionmay be a continuous web or a spider. Finally, the outer operativeportions L" of the reaction members, which have a running fit with theinner surface of the cylindrical body A, are constructed with bendsconsisting of two portions L L, arranged practically at a right angle toeach other, and the shorter one of them is perpendicular to the plane ofrotation, or approximately so. The

communicating apertures If, through which I the steam passes from onechamber to the next, I prefer in this case to arrange parallel with theplanes of the portions L, so that the steam will not be projectedagainst the side surfaces of said portions, but will travel along themwith the least possible amount of friction. The portions L of adjacentreaction members may be arranged to register as shown at i in Fig. 19,in which case the entire rotary member is subdivided into a series ofrelatively small chambers j, which may be termed segmental, as they donot extend entirely around the shaft. If preferred, the adjacentreaction members may be arranged in staggered positions, as shown at kin Fig. 18, in which case a continuous chamber is formedaround theflange L between each two reaction members. In either event the travelof the steam will be practically in a continuous spiral path extendingaround the rotary member with a substantially constant angle or pitch.

While I have shown only horizontal arrangements of my reaction-engine, Idesire it to be clearly understood that the shaft may be disposedvertically or at any angle to the horizontal and also that othermodifications may be made without departing from the nature of myinvention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A reaction-engine comprising a casing provided with a continuouscircumferential groove or chamber upon its inner surface and an inletfor the driving medium connected with said groove, in combination with arotary member having an inlet-chamber communicating with said groove,and provided with a series of reaction members through which the drivingmedium is adapted to pass successively on its way from saidinlet-chamber to the exhaust.

2. A reaction-engine having a rotary member with a series of reactionmembers, the edges of which lie in a surface generated by rotation, anda casing shaped to lie close to the paths of said edges.

3.. A reaction-engine having a cylindrical casing provided with an inletand an outlet for the driving medium, and. a rotary mem ber havingreaction members the edges of which form a fit with the inner surface ofthe casing.

4. A reaction-engine having a cylindrical casing with a central inletand end outlets for the driving medium, in combination with a rotarymember having a double series of reaction members or plates having aperipheral fit against the inner surface of the casing and forming aseries of chambers through which the driving medium is adapted to travelexpansively, with a reaction effect, from the inlet to each of theoutlets.

5. A reaction-engine having a casing with a peripheral inlet for thedriving medium, and a series of rotary reaction members arranged to bedriven by said medium.

6. A reaction-engine comprising a casing having an inlet for the drivingmedium, two sets of rotary reaction members having communicatingpassages, and a feed-chamber connected with said inlet and locatedbetween the two sets of reaction members.

7. A reaction-engine comprising a casing and a series of members mountedto rotate in unison therein and forming partitions to divide theinterior of said easing into a series of chambers, said members havingtheir peripheral portions spaced from each other, and placed close tothe inner surface of the casing, and being provided with passagesleading from one chamber to the next, the discharge ends of suchpassages being directed to rotate said members by a reaction effect.

8. A reaction-engine comprising a casing and a series of members mountedto rotate in unison therein and forming partitions to divide theinterior of said easing into a series of chambers, said members havingtheir peripheral portions spaced from each other and placed close to theinner surface of the casing, and being provided with passages leadingfrom one chamber to the next, the discharge ends of such passages beingdirected to rotate said members by a reaction effect, and the total areaof such communicating passages increasing from chamber to chamber towardthe exhaust.

9. A reaction-engine comprising a casing and a rotary member mountedwithin said casing and having its periphery close to the inner surfaceof the casing, so as to separate two chambers within the casing, saidrotary member being provided with reaction-passages extending from oneof its end faces to the other and connecting said two chambers so as togive the driving medium a mo tion which is partly lengthwise of the axisof v rotation.

10. A reaction-engine comprising a casing having two outlets and aninlet located between said outlets, and a rotary member having a seriesof reaction members, the peripheries of which are close to theinnersurface of the casing, said reaction members dividing the interior ofthe easing into a central chamber communicating with the inlet, andexpansion-chambers located at both sides of said central chamber, eachof the reaction members having passages which lead from one chamber toanother .and all of which have their discharge ends directed to rotatesaid, members in the same direction by a reaction effect.

1.1. A reaction-engine comprising a casing and a rotary member locatedtherein and provided with reaction members located at varying distancesfrom each other and extending close to the inner surface of the casingwith their peripheral portions, so as to subdivide the interior of theeasing into a series of chambers of different sizes, said reactionmembers being provided with passages extending therethrough from onechamber to another, and having their discharge ends directed to rotatesaid members with a reaction effect.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS R. ALMOND.

Witnesses:

JOHN LOTKA, JOHN A. KEHLENBECK.

